Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-09
How Colonel Fitzhugh Lee Appropriated 9
Yankee Officers Billed Shirts.
Washington Cor. Globe Democrat.

|
In 1861 Fitzhugh Lee, now Governor of
| Virginia, was commanding the Confederate
outpost in Fairfax county as Colonel of
Cavalry. Colonel Tannant, who was an
intimate friend and classmate of Lees at
West Point, was in command of the Union
cavalry outpost near Alexandria. One day
Tannant received orders to advance and
feel the Confederate position in front. A
battalion of men, made up from the depart
ments and the city of Washington, called
the Presidents Body Guard, was assigned
| him to make the advance. He said to a
friend before leaving: 81 want soldiers with
me on this expedition. I know Fitz Lee.
| have slept with him, and whenever we
come together somebody will have to do
some fighting or fast running. l know
Fitz will fight. If had soldiers, and not
these dress-parade fellows I would be de-
lighted to give my friend brush, just to
let him see how nicely we can whip him
back into the Union,''
In the meantime his wife had packed his
valise with clean linen and bottle of old
Hennessey brandy. When everything was
ready Col. Tannant took up the line of
march along the Fairfax and Alexandria
turnpike, in the direction of Fairfax Court
house. After the command had advanced
few miles and come to halt to rest, the
Colenel addressed his men in the following
words:
'sAttention, battalion am now speak
ing to you as soldiers who have enlisted to
defend your country, and not as fellow-cit-
izens. want every man to do his duty in
the time of battle as a soldier should. If
there are any of you who are not willing to
do this, step three PAGES to the 'front.'
Not man moved. They stood like
wall of granite. This gave the Colonel
much encouragement.
"Now, my soldiers" said he, sswith this
determination on your part, we will con-
tinue our advance and drive the enemy
back, or capture the entire force"
Within few miles of the courthouse
they encountered the Confederate pickets,
and succeeded in driving them back. This
gave the command new courage. On they
pushed. But alas! Soon Turner Ashby,
with his Black-herse Cavalry, came char2-
ing on their flank, while Fitz Lee pressed
them in front. The engagement began to
get interesting, when suddenly Pelham's
Horse Artillery unlimbered on the left flank
and began to pour calling fire into Tan
nant's ranks. He rode to the front, leading
the charge against Fitz Lee on the other
oiuc 1HO uuoa ScciuS bue Uo-
came demoralized and retreated in confus-
| sion, falling back to Alexandria. The u
MON forces lost few killed and some pris-
oners. Col. Tannant's headquarters am
bulance was captured, with his rations and
baggage.
A few days after the fight dilapidated
team drove up to his headquarters with the
letters sc. S. A." branded on the skeleton
mules, and in dim white letters on the side
of the topless ambulance also appeared sc.
s. A." and the driver, instead of wearing
the blue, had on a suit of gray. The driv-
er entered Col. Tannant's tent with mill
tary salute, bearing in his hand the Col
onel's valise.
"Where did you come from?" demanded
the Colonel.
81 came from Col. Fitz Lees headquar-
ters, :" was the reply. "He snapped teams
and clothes with me, and told me / could
come back and bring.your valise, and here
it is, Colonel"
"All right, my man?" said the Colonel.
"Go to your quarters and change your uni
form, and report for duty"
Col. Tannant took the valise over to his
wife's room and opened it. The contents
of the valise were note, which ran in the
following words:
OUTPOST CONFEDERATE ARMY, VIRGIN
IA-My Dear Giant: have opened your
valise, appropriated your billed shirts for a
change, and also your bottle of old Hen
nessey for bad cold. traded ambulan-
ces and teams also. When you come out1
again bring more commissary and quarter
master stores.
FITz.
Col. Tannant kept the note until the
close of the war, telling no one about it
but his faithful and loving wife. Tannant
has been living in Tennessee since the war.
Recently he and Lee met, and the bottle of
old Hennessey was well discussed.